Interview: The Neighbourhood Wants to Be the Biggest Band in the World

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In bedrooms and basements all over the world there are kids dreaming of standing in front of 60,000 people at Coachella or Wembley Stadium. The hope of eventually facing an ocean of applause is always a hidden goal for bands, the motivation to go on grueling tours both physically and promotionally. There’s the idea that all the work of riding around in a van will lead to a moment where the adrenaline spikes more than ever before, that feeling that can indefinably be described as: “We made it.”

“I just want to shoot for the stars, and be the biggest band ever,” says guitarist Zach Ables with the straightest face, when asked what he was thinking when he started the band. Singer Jesse Rutherford echoed this later, saying he’s aiming for international renown with The Neighbourhood.

The attention of Columbia Records came from their two EPs, I’m Sorry… and Thank You, though more accurately from their ubiquitous 2013 single, “Sweater Weather.” Like in bedrooms and basements all over the world, the song started how most songs started.

“One day Jesse was at my house and I was playing guitar,” said Ables, “and he said, ‘Hey that’s pretty cool, let me record that.’ And it just so happened to be ‘Sweater Weather.’ When we got done writing the song, when it was all said and done we were like ‘Okay this is pretty good we should keep writing songs.”